However, he said the governor had not given permission for the film to be uploaded to the internet.

Responding to a question from Labour justice spokesman Lewis Macdonald about the role of the Scottish Prison Service, and the rules relating to the filming and the release of the video, Mr Salmond said: "Everyone will deeply regret the hurt and upset that irresponsible use of this footage will have inflicted on the family and friends of Jodi Jones."

After raising the issue at first minister's questions, Mr Macdonald, said: "Alex Salmond failed to answer my question about whether the necessary conditions were imposed on the use of the video material concerned.

"It is right that the chief inspector of prisons has looked into this, but he does not appear to have considered any conditions that could have been imposed on the release of the film, and it is for that reason that Jodi Jones' family have suffered.

"It is difficult to understand why this film, with or without conditions, has been released into the public domain."

Stabbing teenager

The 16-minute video shows Mitchell, 24, taking a lie detector test.

He says he did not know where Jodi Jones' body was and denies stabbing the teenager, who was murdered in 2003.

Mitchell's mother Corinne said the test was further proof of his innocence, but Jodi Jones' family said they believed Mitchell had lied all along.

His case is being considered by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) after his previous appeal failed.

The Scottish Prison Service said it allowed the video, which was filmed in April last year, to be released as part of that case.

However, the SPS said it did not give explicit permission for it to be put on YouTube.

Mitchell, who has always claimed his innocence, is serving a minimum of 20 years in prison after being found guilty in 2005 of the 2003 murder.